Blood Respiratory Gases, Lactate, and Pyruvate during Thermal Stress in the Chicken

Abstract

Arterial blood pO2, pCO2, pH, lactate, and pyruvate concentrations were measured in chickens at normal body temperature and at temperatures of 43, 44, and 45°C. A decrease in pCO2 and increases in the other components were observed. It was concluded that acute anoxia was not the cause of thermal death in chickens.